Chapter 155: Joining Squad 11.
Seireitei, Squad 11 Barracks.
The commotion caused by Naruto obtaining his zanpakutō was quickly suppressed, which was not unrelated to the tense situation on the front lines of the Soul Society.
His time studying at the Soul Reaper Academy had effectively been placed on partial hiatus.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto intended for Naruto to participate in the war between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.
Although there was a suspicion of forcing growth, the Soul Society at this time was extremely similar to Konoha during the Third Ninja World War.
The Soul Reaper Academy in the Seireitei was a blood transfusion machine for the front-line war; once souls had undergone some training and achieved results, possessing the strength to fight, they would be enlisted into the ranks of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, either becoming low-level Shinigami or figures of actual authority within the squads.
This was the norm during wartime and was unavoidable.
As a fierce elite unit responsible for front-line offensives, the zanpakutō of most members in Squad 11 were of the direct attack type, with little emphasis on Kidō.
Moreover, Naruto had long been valued by Unohana Yachiryu, so it was entirely logical for him to cease practicing Kidō and be pulled directly into Squad 11.
Even if he wanted to object, there was nothing else Naruto could do now but comply with the arrangements.
"Captain!"
A fanatical greeting reached Naruto's ears. Unohana Yachiryu, who was two body-lengths ahead of Naruto, nodded gently in acknowledgement. As they went deeper into the interior of the Squad 11 barracks, such fanatical greetings were incessant.
It was evident how much authority Unohana Yachiryu held in this unit as the captain of this fierce force.
After all, she was the founder of Squad 11.
"Do you like the atmosphere here?"
Upon reaching the office, Unohana Yachiryu sat in the main seat and asked Naruto with unhurried composure.
"It's alright, just a bit too ferocious."
Whether it was the low-level Shinigami or the seated officers with real power in Squad 11, the ferocity that seeped from their bones could not be hidden.
"This is the tenet of Squad 11 and a philosophy carried through to the end. Since I served as the first captain and Kenpachi, all of this has been set in stone."
Unohana Yachiryu's words were full of pride. The Squad 11 she had forged with her own hands was exactly like her inner personality; everyone was a battle maniac who would fight to the death without retreating.
"How about you serve as the lieutenant?"
"Me?" Naruto pointed at his own nose. "Then the original lieutenant..."
"He is naturally unwilling and will not be convinced, but the rules of Squad 11 are such that whoever is stronger holds the higher position. Even if you want to become the captain of Squad 11, the second Kenpachi, that is not a problem."
It couldn't be called the Law of the jungle, but this naked reality where the strong possess everything was not hidden in the slightest.
"If you want to fully integrate into Squad 11 and have comrades on the battlefield to whom you can entrust your back, subduing them with strength is a necessary step."
Unohana Yachiryu, finding this to be a matter of course, rested her chin on her hands, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the zanpakutō at Naruto's waist.
"I have yet to see what your zanpakutō looks like in its Shikai form, and I also want to see just how strong you are now that you have completely resolved the issue of two souls in one body."
A wave of inexplicable nervousness washed over Naruto, and he frowned fiercely.
Naruto had long since witnessed the ferocity in the bones of this woman, Unohana Yachiryu. He was truly worried that now that he possessed a zanpakutō and was capable of Shikai, she would go all out and engage him in a death match.
"Hehe, don't worry. Before you learn Bankai or reach your Peak, I will not cross blades with you again."
Unohana Yachiryu shook her head, the expression on her face not appearing to be fake, as if it wasn't her who had threatened Naruto yesterday.
"A Genius needs to grow. It is better to leave the forcing of growth to war. Although it would be faster if I stepped in personally, I worry that one day I might not be able to control the blade in my hand."
"Captain, you summoned me."
Just as Naruto intended to speak up again to decline joining the squad, a robust man with reddish-brown short hair and almost straight eyebrows walked in; at first glance, he was somewhat handsome.
"Ashido, I intend to have Naruto take over your position as lieutenant."
"Captain, I naturally obey your orders, but I think many members may feel resentful."
"Everything from here on is left to you. After resolving any hidden concerns, take him to familiarize himself with the environment within the squad. Once the rest period passes in a while, you can have him lead a squad to crusade against Hueco Mundo."
Aside from establishing the tenets and philosophy of Squad 11, Unohana Yachiryu did not care much for internal affairs. Except for battle, which could pique her interest, everything else was left to Ashido to handle.
"Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto, please come with me."
Ashido was naturally a man of few words, and although he only spoke a few words, Naruto could still hear the gnashing of teeth in his tone.
Well, although the starting point for joining the squad was very high, a fierce battle was still unavoidable.
As Naruto walked out of the Squad 11 office, a figure hiding in the shadows suddenly jumped out.
A rugged man with long, weed-like hair, whose stature was a head taller than everyone else in the squad, ignored Naruto following behind Ashido and instead smashed a fist onto Ashido's shoulder.
"Ashido, is our Squad 11 going on an expedition again?!"
"Yes, the rest period will end in a few days, and we will launch a full-scale attack on Hueco Mundoalongside Squad 1, Squad 3, and Squad 4."
"That bunch from Squad 6..."
"Do not speak nonsense. Although they are nicknamed the Noble Squad, their combat strength is not weak, and they have held the front lines for a long time." Ashido reprimanded him with a straight face, neither too harshly nor too lightly, "Also, from now on, unless something unexpected happens, the internal affairs of the squad will be fully handled by Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto."
"That brat? You aren't kidding, are you..."
Naruto's height was the shortest in the entire Squad 11; compared to the tall man questioning him, he only barely reached his waist.
This was a point that made Naruto quite depressed; the growth rate of souls in the Soul Society was simply too slow, and their long lives allowed souls to maintain a certain physical state for a very long time.
Wanting to grow taller in the Soul Society... just wait a few hundred years first!
"Kukuryūshiki, I am not joking with you. He is the Genius whose zanpakutō shook most of the Seireitei upon its first Shikai yesterday, and he is also the Genius who once defeated the Captain by one move in a sword duel."
Listening to Ashido's further introduction, the tall man known as Kukuryūshiki put away his previous expression, replaced by one of gravity.
"Although as the 5th Seat of Squad 11, I do not have the authority to question the Captain's decision, rumors are mostly exaggerated. I must verify it personally!"
Drawing the zanpakutō from his waist, Kukuryūshiki's previous rhetoric was clearly just an excuse; he simply wanted to spar with Naruto to see what kind of extraordinary qualities this Genius, who could make the Captain lose by one move, actually possessed.
"Kukuryūshiki, no need to suppress your strength; just fight to your heart's content." Ashido did not stop him and instead set the rule of going all out in advance, "After all, when the time comes to crusade against Hueco Mundo, it will be Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto leading the team."
"Understood!"
Kukuryūshiki understood in an instant; this was to weigh Naruto's capabilities and see if he truly had enough strength to serve as the lieutenant of Squad 11.
After all, without concrete battle achievements, Naruto starting at such a high point would inevitably make the fierce members of Squad 11feel unconvinced.
And as the 5th Seat of Squad 11, it was most appropriate for him to step out at this moment to test Naruto's mettle.
One must know that the competition for seats in Squad 11 has always been intense, and all seats were earned by one's own fists and feet. Even if Naruto's reputation as a Genius was known to all, he could not escape this unspoken rule of Squad 11.
"Let me see your true strength, Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto!"
"As you wish!"
Abandoning the thought of declining to join the squad and continuing his studies at the Soul Reaper Academy, Naruto gripped the zanpakutō at his waist. As he drew the blade, he simultaneously recited the Shikai incantation.